In a significant shift for digital research, Meta has officially retired its data tool, CrowdTangle, replacing it with the newly launched “Meta Content Library.” This transition, announced earlier this year and now fully implemented, has sparked concerns about the new tool’s accessibility and effectiveness.
Acquired by Meta in 2016, CrowdTangle was an invaluable resource for journalists, researchers, and regulators. Its capabilities enabled detailed analyses of public engagement on Facebook and Instagram, contributing to a multitude of research reports on topics such as public health, misinformation, and electoral processes. The data from CrowdTangle was frequently cited in academic literature and was instrumental in understanding social media dynamics.
The decision to phase out CrowdTangle was accelerated following an incident in 2020 when a New York Times journalist used a Twitter bot to highlight popular Facebook pages, revealing a prevalence of right-wing content. This led to public scrutiny and concerns about Facebook’s role in amplifying divisive content.
In response, Meta argued that post engagement metrics did not fully capture the impact of content. By 2021, Meta had introduced its own “most viewed” content reports and disbanded the CrowdTangle team.
The new “Meta Content Library” was designed to offer a replacement for CrowdTangle, yet it has introduced more stringent access controls. Researchers now require approval to use the tool, with only a limited number of users granted access—primarily those affiliated with non-profit newsrooms or research institutions. Journalists outside these categories are ineligible to apply.
Critics argue that the Meta Content Library falls short of CrowdTangle’s capabilities. Reports indicate that searches, which once yielded hundreds of results on CrowdTangle, now return significantly fewer results on the new platform. This raises doubts about the tool’s ability to fully replicate its predecessor’s functions.
Experts are expressing concern over the broader implications of CrowdTangle’s closure, noting that its absence could severely limit access to critical information across various topics. The transition underscores a growing debate about the need for transparency and access in digital research amidst shifting corporate policies.
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